A Concubine’s Competitive Life in the Prince’s Household

Cai Lian opened the food box she had brought and took out several bowls of pre-prepared ingredients.

Brown sugar syrup, chilled rice cakes, mint balls, sago pearls, and milk were each placed in separate large bowls. The food box also contained ice, keeping the ingredients cool.

Cai Lian skillfully assembled the ingredients and served Shen Wei two bowls of the refreshing drink.

Shen Wei deliberately made a bit of a fuss, catching the attention of Zhao Yang Princess and the other noble ladies.

The brown sugar rice cakes were drizzled with two spoonfuls of brown sugar syrup, glistening under the sunlight. The mint sago jelly, with its green mint balls resembling smooth jade, exuded a faint minty aroma. The green mint balls floated amidst the white milk and tiny sago pearls, creating a delightful visual.

Not only did it taste delicious, but its presentation was also exquisite—a chilled treat that any girl would instantly fall in love with.

Finally, a tentative voice chimed in, "Lady Shen, what are you eating? It looks absolutely delightful."

The speaker was Lady Sun, sitting beside Shen Wei. Lady Sun, originally named Sun Qingmei, was the newlywed wife of the Little Southern Marquis. It was said that on their wedding night, the border was in crisis, and the Little Southern Marquis had to rush off to war.

Now, with frequent reports of victories at the border and the Little Southern Marquis earning great military honors, Sun Qingmei's status among the noble ladies of Yanjing had risen significantly.

Sun Qingmei had a delicate appearance and a gentle, serene demeanor. Her beautiful eyes blinked with curiosity as she gazed at the mint sago jelly in Shen Wei's hands.

"This is a summer chilled drink from my hometown—brown sugar rice cakes and mint sago jelly. Would you like to try a bowl, Lady Sun?" Shen Wei asked with a warm smile.

Sun Qingmei's eyes lit up with joy. "That sounds wonderful."

Cai Lian quickly prepared another bowl of the cool, crystal-clear mint sago jelly. Under the curious gazes of the onlookers, Lady Sun took a small taste with a porcelain spoon.

The mint sago jelly was icy, smooth, and slightly chewy, blending perfectly with the sweet aroma of milk. With just one bite, it felt as if all the summer heat had dissipated.

Perfect for a sweltering summer day—truly refreshing!

Sun Qingmei couldn't stop praising it. "This mint sago jelly is absolutely delicious!"

From the main seat, Zhao Yang Princess watched with envy. Having tasted all the palace desserts, she had never seen such a unique and visually stunning treat. Zhao Yang quickly spoke up, "Shen Wei, I want to try it too—both of them!"

This was exactly what Shen Wei had been waiting for—the princess's approval!

Cai Lian promptly prepared two more bowls and respectfully presented them to the princess.

The midday heat was stifling, and Zhao Yang Princess eagerly took a bite of the brown sugar rice cake, followed by a taste of the mint sago jelly. Her eyes widened in delight.

So delicious!

Icy, sweet, and with the perfect chewiness from the sago pearls.

A faint smile played on Shen Wei's lips. Her trip to the East Mountain hunting grounds served two purposes: first, to ensure the safety of Prince Yan, and second, to promote her summer chilled drinks.

Shen Wei planned to open a summer chilled drink shop in Yanjing, named "Wei Xue Ice City," specializing in brown sugar rice cakes, mint sago jelly, and other summer beverages.

With a new product launch, advertising was essential. Who better to endorse it than the high-ranking Zhao Yang Princess?

When the shop opened, a banner would proudly declare: "Wei Xue Ice City Desserts—Even the Princess Loves Them!"

If the princess loved it, how could anyone resist trying it?

With such celebrity endorsement, the summer drinks were bound to sell like hotcakes!

Once the shop was up and running, Shen Wei envisioned a year-round menu: flower milk tea in spring, chilled drinks in summer, osmanthus hot tea in autumn, and warm milk drinks in winter. The shop's desserts and beverages would change with the seasons, building a strong reputation before expanding into a nationwide chain.

After establishing the chain, Shen Wei even planned to create a catchy jingle for the shop: "You love me, I love you, Wei Xue Ice City is so sweet," to boost its popularity among children.

With universal appeal and widespread love, Shen Wei's shop was destined to rake in massive profits.

As she mentally mapped out her future business empire, Shen Wei felt a sense of satisfaction. Once she returned to Prince Yan's residence in a couple of days, she would immediately start preparing for the shop and find a capable manager to run it.

She would be the behind-the-scenes boss, earning money—lots of it!

And if anything ever happened to Prince Yan, she would have a secure fallback plan.

"Lady Shen, I'd also like to try a bowl," the daughter of the prime minister couldn't resist and spoke up.

Shen Wei feigned regret and politely replied, "I didn't bring much with me today, so there's only enough for everyone to have a small taste. I hope you don't mind."

If even the princess loved it, who would dare complain? Everyone eagerly awaited their turn.

Cai Lian and a few palace maids quickly portioned the remaining drink into small bowls and served them to each noble lady.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‍portions were small, just enough for a few bites.

Zhao Yang Princess happily finished her two bowls and touched the cool porcelain. Suddenly, she remembered Yan Yunting's warning that Tantai Rou was on her period and shouldn't consume cold foods.

Zhao Yang Princess instructed the maids, "Don't give any to Tantai Rou. She can't have it."

The maids naturally complied.

Everyone received a small bowl of the chilled drink, except for Tantai Rou, who sat in the corner with nothing.

To Tantai Rou, it felt like a deliberate humiliation by Zhao Yang Princess. She lowered her head in embarrassment, her hands clenched tightly under her sleeves.

A flash of venomous resentment crossed her eyes.

After everyone had finished, Shen Wei smiled and said, "My skills are nothing special. I heard there's already a dessert shop in Yanjing that makes similar drinks, and it's about to open. If you're interested, you can visit it once you're back in the city."

Shen Wei had intentionally not brought enough ingredients, ensuring everyone could only have a small taste—just enough to leave them wanting more.

This was her strategy of "scarcity marketing."

The less they had, the more the noble ladies of Yanjing would crave it.

Zhao Yang Princess, who thoroughly enjoyed the two desserts, lightly fanned herself with her silk fan and mused, "Next month is my birthday. I must invite the chef from this dessert shop to prepare these chilled treats for my guests—"

Before she could finish, a sudden scream erupted from the banquet.

The prime minister's daughter shrieked, "Snakes! Snakes!"

Perhaps due to the proximity to the stream, two small black-and-white snakes slithered rapidly toward the group. The noble ladies panicked, screaming and scattering in all directions.

The two snakes were less than half a meter long, as thin as small ropes, with eerie red eyes. They darted straight toward Zhao Yang Princess, their forked tongues flickering ominously.

"Guards, protect the princess!" the maids cried out in alarm.

The banquet by the stream was for female guests, and due to the separation of genders, the imperial guards were patrolling at the far end of the stream. Hearing the commotion, they rushed over, but it was too late.

The two snakes lunged at Zhao Yang Princess's face.